my update

[pberggren1]

Thanks Sangye for posting this. I was trying to say this but the pred head is in the way.

[Sangye]

Man, I thought my head was gonna explode when I saw that list. I've seen so many people overmedicated, especially with pain meds. They wind up with tons of symptoms that no one can figure out-- drug interactions and side effects.

[pberggren1]

A friend of mine is on about 40 different meds. At least 7 of those are pain meds. He never tells me what he takes. I ask him now and then what changes and he says not too sure just what the doc said......I don't know how he lives. He seems like a zombie most of the time. And when not a zombie he is usually pissed off about something. One time he went to the washroom and I took a peak in his med cupboard......WOW! I was blown away. He says he needs all of them or would die in about 2 days if even one of them was taken away.

[Dryhill]

Yes I have diabetis type 2. And my dr cks my calc evey month and its fine.

They checked my calcuim levels and all seemed fine, then they did a bone density scan and found that my bones were not as dense as they would like and immediately put me on 70mg of Alendronic Acid a week.

Jim

[Al]

Sange says an important thing: The more drugs you take, the higher the risk of bad interactions. Side effects expand arithmetically; interactions geometrically.

"Calcium levels" say nothing about bone lose. When the body needs calcium that is is not getting through diet, it leaches the bones to get its fix. A bone density scan once a year is appropriate for anyone on prednisone. Much better than drugs to keep bone density is gravity resistance work, assuming that you can actually do it: walking, light weight training, and so on. Again, drugs drugs tend to have side effects.

Al

[alexciasmom]

wow you gave me alot to talk to my doc about. i will have to print this up and bring it in so i dont forget any of it.

[Al]

A friend of mine is on about 40 different meds. At least 7 of those are pain meds. He never tells me what he takes. I ask him now and then what changes and he says not too sure just what the doc said......I don't know how he lives. He seems like a zombie most of the time. And when not a zombie he is usually pissed off about something. One time he went to the washroom and I took a peak in his med cupboard......WOW! I was blown away. He says he needs all of them or would die in about 2 days if even one of them was taken away.

Ths is often the case with vets--particularly those with PTSD. Their docs get far more "bang for the buck" treating them pharmaceutically, esentually masking the symptoms, rather than going putting them through talk therapy and counseling.

Al

[gunnyl]

I'm taking MTX x 8 Tabs once a week and my doctor has me on 1mg Folic Acid a day as well.
I have pneumonia, hopefully the antibiotics are working because my Pulmonologist is going to admit me on Wed if they don't.
Sangye, great advise on the natural remedies!
I've used ACV in the past to takle PH levels in the GI tract. Works wonders!

GL

[Palmyra]

I agree....the more meds, the more side effects. Antibiotics and inhalers for asthma will contribute to thrush (fungal growth)

Question: How often do you use your inhaler? Is your 'thrush' confined to the mouth (if so, I can help and will send a private message) Has anyone done a sputum culture to determine what type of organism might be causing your pneumonia?

~Jane

[alexciasmom]

ok i will go in to my first post and edit it to explaine more